Behind the lens with a military photographer
Not many people can say they’ve been to the Arctic and the Antarctic in the space of six months, but Leading Photographer Belinda Alker is one of the lucky few.
As a military photographer in the Royal Navy, she can be deployed anywhere in the world at any time to document the activities of UK ships and their crews, whether they’re supporting conservation projects in the British Antarctic Territory, conducting counter-narcotics operations in the Arabian Sea or patrolling the Pacific Ocean.
When she’s not deployed overseas, the former Royal Navy hydrographer is based out of the photography section in Portsmouth, where her specialist skills are in demand every day to capture new technology launches, ceremonial occasions, homecomings, handovers of command and VIP visits.
Like all military photographers, Belinda received specialist training in her craft at the Defence School of Photography, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire.
This World Photography Day, she takes us behind the lens aboard Royal Navy icebreaker vessel, HMS Protector, where she was deployed for six months.
“I had been pushing to be deployed aboard HMS Protector — the Royal Navy’s only icebreaker — for a while. Her survey equipment is used to update old seafaring charts and map areas that haven’t previously been documented because they haven’t been possible to access or have been obscured by glaciers. So, you’re literally at the forefront of discovery.
“My role onboard was to capture the icebreakers’ activities — how it’s enforcing regional security, supporting scientific research programmes and carrying out hydrographic surveys. The gorgeous sunsets weren’t officially part of the brief, but they’re among the best shots on my camera roll.
“Antarctica is the most hostile environment I’ve ever worked in. You’re outside in temperatures of up to -20°c for going on six hours at a time, which means just ten minutes without gloves can be a pretty painful experience.
“The photographic opportunities were stunning and a wildlife photographer’s dream, but the extreme conditions made it challenging to fulfil everyday tasks such as changing lenses, managing battery life, squeezing kit onto small survey boats and sending imagery back to the UK. Fortunately, my cameras are touchscreen, so I could remove my heavy mitts and operate my kit using the touchscreen fingers on my liner gloves. The cold would set in quickly though, so the mitts couldn’t come off for long!
“Despite the challenges, my time aboard HMS Protector remains the highpoint of my Royal Navy career. I’ve filmed from the open door of a helicopter 800ft up in the air and stood alongside an F-35B jet as it thundered up a take-off ramp, but my time aboard HMS Protector beats them all.
“You’re going somewhere that few people have the chance to visit, seeing scenery that is vastly different from anything you’ve seen before and walking in the footsteps of renowned explorers and scientists. Most people never have the chance to do that.”
Belinda shares the stories behind some of her favourite shots from HMS Protector:
Navy personnel use a drone to collect aerial imagery of a penguin colony in the Pitt Islands, Antarctica.
BA: “Visiting Antarctica has long been an ambition of mine. At times like this I could hardly believe I was here for work. This image of a few penguins huddled on top of an iceberg at sunset was definitely a “civvies pay thousands for this” moment.”
HMS Protector during her time in the Arctic.
BA: “We parked the ship in the ice and were walking on ice that was as little as 15cm thick.”
Adelie penguins on Saunders Island, South Sandwich Islands, photographed during a penguin survey, Antarctica.
BA: “It was a fantastic experience to be able to sit quietly and watch penguin behaviour as they waddled back and forth from their nests to the sea.”
Sunset near the British Antarctic base at Rothera.
BA: “ I would always remind myself to go and have a look at the sunset because the sunset in the Antarctic is like nothing you’d see over the Mediterranean or other warmer climates. You get all these glowing purply pinks that come through the clouds and reflect off the ice, creating all kinds of strange effects.”
Polar bear mother and cub seen whilst carrying out ice trials in the Arctic.
BA: “While carrying out ice trials in the Arctic we were lucky enough to see a polar bear mother and cub — not your average day in the Royal Navy!”
Downtime on the slopes, Antarctica.
BA: “In this image a paulk that would normally carry supplies, or could be used for a casualty, was repurposed as a sledge for the evening’s entertainment. No WiFi required to have fun!”
Mountain Leader-trained Royal Marines head out onto the ice to check it’s suitable for a shore party, Arctic.
BA: “I liked how it’s just them on a white canvas. It really felt like there was nobody else around for hundreds of miles.”
The flukes of a humpback whale at sunset, Antarctica.
BA: “In Antarctic waters we were lucky enough to see many whales, but this image capturing a humpback’s flukes at sunset is a favourite.”
Penguins huddle on an iceberg, Antarctica.
BA: “Visiting Antarctica has long been an ambition of mine. At times like this I could hardly believe I was here for work. This image of a few penguins huddled on top of an iceberg at sunset was definitely a “civvies pay thousands for this” moment.”
Arrowsmith Peninsula, Antarctica.
BA: “This image captured the moody side of Antarctica, with the water almost glassy and glowing in the light.”
Want to see more from our incredible military photographers? Check out images captured earlier this year in Estonia, North Macedonia, France and Norway.
